Everton v Newcastle: 5 players who have starred for both teams

1) Sylvain Distin

The French defender got his break in English football at St James’s Park, signing on loan from Paris Saint-­Germain in 2001. He went on to make 27 appearances for the Magpies that season, helping the side finish fourth in the Premier League. Spells at Manchester City and Portsmouth followed before Distin signed for Everton in 2009 for £5million. During six seasons at Goodison Park, the centre­-half was an ever-­present, making 192 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals before moving to his current club, Bournemouth, last July.

2) Duncan Ferguson

Ferguson’s two seasons at St James’s Park were sandwiched by long periods at Goodison Park.

Initially signing on loan for Everton during the early stages of the 1994/95 season, the Scottish striker was soon signed on a permanent deal by Joe Royle for £4million. During his first four years with the Toffees, Ferguson scored 40 goals in 117 games before moving to Newcastle for £7million. But although scoring twice on his debut, his time in the North East was plagued by injury, and he was subsequently sold back to the Toffees by Sir Bobby Robson in 2000, where he stayed until his retirement in 2006.

3) Gary Speed

The Newcastle legend signed for Everton from Leeds in 1996, spending just under two seasons at Goodison Park. He made 65 appearances in that time, scoring 17 goals ­– including his only ever career hat-trick in a 7­-1 win over Southampton. The Welshman then signed at St James’s Park in February 1998, and went on to spend six years on Tyneside. In that time, Speed made 275 appearances for the Magpies in all competitions, finding the back of the net 40 times, becoming an ever­-present in the heart of Newcastle’s midfield.

4) Paul Bracewell

Bracewell’s time at Everton came inbetween two spells at Sunderland. He moved to Goodison Park in 1984, spending five seasons at the club. It was during that time that Bracewell enjoyed his most successful period as a player, winning the Football League in 1985 as well as the European Cup Winners’ Cup the same year. A move back to Sunderland came in 1989, before he moved over to Tyneside in 1992 for £250,000. During his three seasons at St James’s Park, Bracewell made 76 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals.

5) Peter Beardsley

Signed by Arthur Cox in September 1983 for £150,000, Beardsley became an instant hit with Newcastle fans, scoring his first goal for the club a month later and his first hat-trick in a 5­-0 win over Manchester City in the following fixture. He went on to score 61 goals in 163 games during his first spell on Tyneside. He moved to Everton from arch rivals Liverpool for £1million in 1991, scoring 32 times in 95 games for the Toffees in two seasons, before a £1.4million move saw him back at St James’s Park, playing under Kevin Keegan. His second spell saw Beardsley score 58 goals in 155 games for Newcastle, bringing his overall tally on Tyneside to 90 goals 250 games ­ a goal less than every three games.